Council smacked with £50k fine after tenants dodge death as botched balcony collapses

DANGEROUS DIGS: It is lucky someone didn't die in the balcony collapse, the judge said [ROSS PARRY]

Andrew Bleasdale felt the balcony move as he put the key in his front door when he returned home.

In a split-second decision, he decided to hurl himself through his door and looked back to see that the balcony had gone from where he was standing.

At a hearing at Preston Crown Court, Mr Bleasdale said: "I made complaints about the condition of the balcony several times before the collapse as it was leaning to the extent I felt I needed to walk near the wall because of the slope.

"When the balcony gave way under my feet a gas pipe also ruptured and I could see gas escaping."

A woman living on the floor below Mr Bleasdale in the three-floor building said she heard a loud bang as though there had been an earthquake.

She and other residents of the council-run block of flats in Blackpool, Lancashire, were trapped in their homes by debris until emergency services arrived.

NEGLIGENCE: The council admitted to breaching health and safety rules after ignoring tenants' concerns over the balcony [ROSS PARRY]

“I made complaints about the condition of the balcony several times before the collapse”

Andrew Bleasdale

All tenants affected by the disaster were kept in a hostel until the 1960s building was repaired and made safe for habitation.

Mr Bleasdale had to stay in a guesthouse for several months and even had to switch rooms five times.

He could only return to his home when the balcony was replaced with more secure ones at a cost of £3.4million.

One council worker was fired and one resigned over the balcony collapse that happened in May 2012.

The social housing organisation were also fined £50,000 after ignoring numerous concerns and complaints they received about the balcony every month for five years.

They pleaded guilty to risking the health and safety of tenants in a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were also ordered to pay £27,821 in costs.

Sophie Cartwright was prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive.

Judge Baker said: "It is indeed remarkable, it is extremely fortunate this incident did not result in death or serious injury.

"The state of affairs could properly be described as an accident waiting to happen. It is one which could have been foreseen and should have been prevented."

Kevin McLoughlin, defending, said Blackpool Coastal Housing was mortified, dismayed and angered by the turn of events.

He said: "It may be with so many competing priorities, this one slipped off the radar.